Afghanistan

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I wish to inform the House that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, together with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development, is today publishing the eighth progress report on developments in Afghanistan.
	The report focuses on key developments during the month of June.
	The UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolutions 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011). This created two new sanctions regimes to replace the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999) al-Qaeda and Taliban sanctions regime. This is an important step. It sends a clear signal that now is the time for the Taliban to break with al-Qaeda and join the political process. We welcome the Government of Afghanistan's support of this initiative and its continued engagement in the implementation of sanctions to counter the insurgency.
	June saw the anticipated increase in security incidents. The insurgency continued its attacks in an attempt to reassert itself, but the Afghan National Security Forces continue to respond effectively. The Afghan forces dealt with a major, sophisticated attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on 28 June professionally and speedily.
	The Special Electoral Court, established in December to investigate accusations of electoral fraud following the 18 September parliamentary elections, announced its findings. These called for the dismissal and replacement of 62 of the Lower House's 249 MPs. The Lower House of Parliament responded to the announcement by passing votes of no confidence in the Attorney-General, Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court.
	Negotiations between the Afghan Government and the International Monetary Fund on a new IMF programme have stalled. While the Government of Afghanistan have made progress, the IMF is keen to see more robust action in key areas including asset recovery. A UK co-funded forensic audit of the Kabul Bank is now under way.
	I am placing the report in the Library of the House. It will also be published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, www.fco.gov.uk, and the HMG UK and Afghanistan website, afghanistan.hmg.gov.uk.
	The July and August progress reports on developments in Afghanistan will be published in a single document in early September.

Armed Forces: Coroners' Inquests

Lord McNally: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Jonathan Djanogly) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	My honourable friend the Minister for the Armed Forces and I wish to make the latest of our quarterly statements to the House with details of the inquests of service personnel who have died overseas. As always, we wish to express the Government's deep and abiding gratitude to all of our service personnel who have served, or are now serving, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	Once again we also extend our sincere condolences to the families of those service personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in connection with the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in particular the 11 service personnel who have died since our last Statement. Our thoughts remain with all of the families.
	Today we are announcing the current status of inquests conducted by the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner, and other coroners in England and Wales. This statement gives the position at 8 July 2011.
	To supplement this statement I have placed tables in the Libraries of the Houses, which outline the status of all cases and the date of death in each case. The tables include information about cases where a Board of Inquiry or a Service Inquiry has been held.
	Our departments will continue to work closely together to improve our processes. We will continue the Government's support for coroners conducting inquests into operational deaths. We remain grateful to them and their staff for their dedication, together with those people who are providing support and information throughout the inquest process and afterwards.
	Since October 2007 both departments have provided additional resources for operational inquests. These resources have been provided to the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner, Mr David Ridley, due to the repatriation of service personnel at RAF Lyneham. These measures have been provided to ensure that there is not a backlog of operational inquests. As I confirmed in the previous Statement, we will again provide additional resources to the Oxfordshire coroner, Mr Nicholas Gardiner, when repatriation ceremonies for those killed on operations overseas move to RAF Brize Norton within his district. The move will take place on 1 September 2011.
	Current status of inquests
	Since the last statement there have been 23 inquests into the deaths of service personnel on operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.
	A total of 476 inquests have been held into the deaths of service personnel who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, including 12 service personnel who died in the UK of their injuries. In three further cases no formal inquest was held. In two of these cases the deaths were taken into consideration during inquest proceedings for those who died in the same incident. In the third case, where the serviceman died of his injuries in Scotland, it was decided not to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry.
	Open inquests
	Fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan
	There are currently 75 open inquests to be concluded into the deaths of service personnel who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. 21 of these involve deaths in the past six months. The Wiltshire and Swindon coroner has retained 28 of the remaining open inquests, and 35 are being conducted by coroners closer to the next-of-kin. Hearing dates have been set in 13 cases.
	There is one remaining open inquest into deaths from operations in Iraq.
	Inquests into the deaths of service personnel who returned home injured
	Twelve inquests remain to be held of service personnel who returned home injured and subsequently died of their injuries. Two hearing dates have been set. The remaining 10 cases will be listed for hearing when the continuing investigations are completed.
	We shall continue to inform the House of progress with the remaining inquests.

British Council: Annual Report and Accounts

Lord Howell of Guildford: Copies of the British Council's annual report and accounts for the 2010-11 financial year have been placed in the Libraries of the House. It can also be found at the British Council's website: www.britishcouncil.org. During the period the British Council received £189,983,000 grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Care Homes: Southern Cross

Earl Howe: My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I wish to update the House further on the situation regarding Southern Cross Healthcare.
	As I have always made clear to the House, the Government's overriding concern is the welfare and safety of the 31,000 residents in Southern Cross's care. We expect all parties to work together to secure a consensual, solvent restructuring of the business that meets their collective responsibility to secure the welfare and care of residents. I am pleased to see that Southern Cross, its landlords and lenders continue to share that view.
	Officials continue to maintain close contact with Southern Cross's senior management, landlords and lenders. The Government continue to be actively involved in discussions with all parties. When I last updated the House on 12 July, Southern Cross had the previous day announced their expectation that the end of the restructuring process would see the operation of all the company's care homes being transferred to the landlords and alternative providers of care. This represents a step in the ongoing process, agreed between the company, its landlords and lenders on 15 June, for a consensual, solvent restructuring. Discussions to resolve the remaining steps continue.
	I appreciate that residents, families and staff are anxious to know what will happen next. Let me repeat the assurances I have given to the House previously: whatever the outcome, no one-state-supported or self-funded-will find themselves homeless or without care. We have made clear to all parties involved in the restructuring discussions that they have a collective responsibility to ensure a way forward that covers all homes and assures continuity of care. In addition, we will continue to work with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, the Care Quality Commission and others to ensure that they are ready to respond to any potential disruption to the continuity of care and to ensure that all residents are protected.
	The announcement made on 11 July by Southern Cross has no immediate effect on the provision of care or the operation of care homes. Southern Cross remains in operation, and will continue to operate all its care homes until transfers to new operators have taken place. I understand that this process is expected to be completed by the end of October or earlier. That does not mean however that it should take that long to make clear what each landlord's plan is and how homes will be run by new operators.
	Each of Southern Cross's landlords is settling its arrangements regarding which care home operators to work with. This is a key part of the ongoing discussions. The Government are strongly urging all parties to set out their plans as swiftly as possible so as to offer reassurance to residents and families. As these arrangements are finalised, we understand that updates will be issued. NHP, the biggest of the landlords, owning 249 Southern Cross homes, announced its plans on 18 July to contract with an alternative provider of care and to transfer Southern Cross care home staff. The department is being kept up to date on developments.
	I want to make it absolutely clear that no transfer of homes will take place without new operators having been approved and registered by the Care Quality Commission. Alternative operators will need to be reputable and experienced care providers that can satisfy the CQC that they are capable of delivering high quality care and of meeting all regulatory standards. A number of landlords which will take over the running of Southern Cross homes are already registered with CQC as care providers in their own right and there are established processes to allow these providers to extend their current registration to include additional homes.
	For providers not currently registered with CQC, it will require a new application, which will be subject to full scrutiny and a determination of fitness to provide the service. CQC is committed to ensuring continuity of care, but it will not lower the regulatory bar or reduce the rigour of the registration. CQC's principal concern is the safety of service users and it will not compromise on the standards required. I have been assured that CQC will ensure that resources will be made available to handle any registration work that is needed and it has been working with Southern Cross for some time to prepare for this.
	The transfer of care homes to alternative operators will be a managed process that ensures continuity of services. The company has withdrawn its statutory redundancy notice and given an undertaking to care home staff that they will transfer to new operators on their current terms. All parties involved in the negotiations have given a clear commitment that continuity of care will be paramount throughout the process.
	For the future, I would like to assure the House that the Government will be considering what measures may need to be put in place to prevent similar situations from arising again. Options for financial regulation or other measures will be considered as part of the development of the forthcoming White Paper on social care. The Department of Health is already working with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to consider ways to ensure a diverse and dynamic social care market, but with the right safeguards for stability and continuity of care. I will update the House as this work develops.
	With the forthcoming recess, I appreciate that honourable Members will want to be informed of developments. I undertake to write to honourable Members to keep them informed as the matter progresses.

Consumer Credit and Insolvency

Baroness Wilcox: My honourable friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs (Edward Davey) has today made the following Statement.
	I have today-together with Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury-published a summary of responses to the Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review (Managing Borrowing and Dealing with Debt), launched jointly by BIS and HM Treasury. The summary also includes the Government's response on the insolvency aspects of the review. The call for evidence asked 31 questions covering a range of issues from advertising regulations to addressing unfair bank charges and dealing with debt. Two hundred and sixteen responses were received.
	On personal insolvency and debt advice, we propose to take action that will assist consumers in distress when things go wrong.
	We have already committed to continue funding the face-to-face debt advice project for this year. In order to place debt advice in the future onto a more sustainable footing, we are pleased to announce that the Money Advice Service has agreed to take on responsibility for the co-ordination of debt advice services. The Money Advice Service will carry out a detailed review of the current debt advice landscape to identify the best way that these services can be delivered. The Money Advice Service will develop a model that ensures that debt advice is delivered in the most effective and efficient way.
	Later in the year we will consult on increasing the petition debt levels for creditors. The level (currently £750) has not been increased since the Insolvency Act 1986 came into force and we believe that to be able to threaten someone with bankruptcy for such a small amount is disproportionate.
	Financial rehabilitation following bankruptcy can be an unduly lengthy process, and a number of stakeholders commented on the difficulties a bankrupt can experience in operating even a basic bank account facility. The Government will be consulting in due course on amendments to address a perceived risk from banks that a trustee in bankruptcy may pursue the bank for property acquired by a debtor during the course of the bankruptcy.
	Following comments about the potentially confusing number of possible debt solutions available to someone experiencing financial problems, we intend to consult on whether the provisions on county court administration orders should be repealed, as the numbers entering this process are rapidly declining, with just over 5,000 currently in existence.
	We also recognise concerns about the provision of debt management services and note that there is potential for the regulatory landscape significantly to change. In the meantime, we will work alongside OFT with the key players in the debt management industry to drive up standards and drive out unscrupulous behaviour.
	On the consumer credit section of the review, it was clear that there was much concern about interest rates applying to the high cost credit market, with a number of respondents calling on the Government to introduce a cap on the total cost of credit that can be charged. Intervention in this market carries a risk that we might reduce access to credit. Given the concerns raised and the lack of hard evidence on what impact a total cost of credit cap might have on both the lenders and consumers, we will commission research to see if a cap on the total cost of credit would avoid adverse consumer outcomes.
	We will report back later in the year to announce the Government position on the consumer credit aspects of the review while we continue to consider the evidence.
	We are placing copies of the document in the Libraries of both Houses.

Devolution: Wales

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The coalition's programme for government includes a commitment to "establish a process similar to the Calman Commission for the Welsh Assembly", and the Government's proposals are now taking shape. I am pleased to inform the House of our plans so far.
	A key strength of the Calman commission was its consensual approach, and the Government are committed to establishing a similar approach in Wales. With this in mind, we have worked with the Welsh Government and all parties in the Assembly to reach a broad consensus on how we move forward.
	An independent commission will be established in the autumn to look at the financial accountability of the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales. The commission will examine issues of fiscal devolution and accountability in Wales and will focus on building consensus. It will take into consideration the work of the Holtham commission and will make every effort to report on its recommendations in the autumn of 2012.
	After the commission has reported and the Government have considered their proposals, the commission will look at the constitutional settlement in Wales in the light of experience. The commission will aim to report its findings in 2013.
	Work will continue between the UK Government and the Welsh Government over the summer, and I will look to make further announcements on the process after recess.
	The Government are committed to considering all aspects of the Holtham commission's reports. Separate discussions will continue between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on Holtham's proposals for funding reform for Wales, and they will be extended to include the operation of existing borrowing powers.

Diplomatic Immunity: Serious Offences

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In 2010, 15 serious offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 12 of which were driving-related. This is a decrease on the figures for 2009 (17 alleged offences, 11 of them driving-related). We define serious offences as those that could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 or more months' imprisonment. Also included is drink-driving or driving without insurance.
	22,500 people are entitled to diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom, and the majority of diplomats abide by UK law. The number of alleged serious crimes committed by the diplomatic community is proportionately low.
	Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, those entitled to immunity are expected to obey the law. The FCO does not tolerate foreign diplomats breaking the law.
	We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When allegations of alleged criminal conduct are brought to our attention by the police, we ask the relevant foreign Government to waive diplomatic immunity where appropriate. For the most serious offences, we seek the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat.
	Alleged offences reported to the FCO in 2010 are listed below.
	Offences allegedly committed in 2010
	
		
			  
			 Driving under the influence of alcohol 
			 Ghana 1 
			 Kazakhstan 2 
			 Kyrgyzstan 1 
			 Uzbekistan 1 
			 Saudi Arabia 2 
			 Algeria 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Driving under the influence of alcohol and without insurance 
			 Saudi Arabia 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Driving without insurance 
			 Croatia 1 
			 DRC 1 
			 Egypt 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Offences under the Human Trafficking Act 
			 Saudi Arabia 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Actual bodily harm/assault 
			 Turkey 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Robbery 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 1 
		
	
	Figures for previous years are available in my Written Statement to the House on 28 June 2010 (Official Report, col. 26WS).

Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations: Unpaid Congestion Charge Fines

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The number of outstanding fines incurred by the diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom for non payment of the London congestion charge since its introduction in February 2003 until 20 January 2011 was £49,707,491.
	The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the congestion charge. The table below shows the 62 diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines totalling £100,000 or more.
	
		
			 Country Number of fines Total outstanding (£) 
			 USA 45,005 5,029,920 
			 Russia 38,380 4,358,100 
			 Japan 31,073 3,486,120 
			 Germany 30,478 3,448,210 
			 Nigeria 23,323 2,572,110 
			 India 15353 1,766,620 
			 Sudan 14,325 1,549,260 
			 Ghana 12,821 1,461,680 
			 Poland 12,328 1,405,140 
			 Spain 10,557 1,209,740 
			 France 10,371 1,171,240 
			 Greece 9,800 1,118,420 
			 Kenya 10,015 1,090,230 
			 Ukraine 9,354 1,066,200 
			 Romania 8,789 996,400 
			 Kazakhstan 8,258 950,360 
			 Tanzania 8,318 896,680 
			 Algeria 7,009 769,280 
			 South Africa 6,641 726,340 
			 Korea 5,928 687,720 
			 Sierra Leone 5,955 637,900 
			 Bulgaria 5,417 608,140 
			 Hungary 5,154 584,020 
			 Pakistan 4,714 548,390 
			 Yemen 4,783 542,220 
			 Slovakia 4,751 540,780 
			 Belarus 4,599 521,640 
			 Cyprus 4,502 515,740 
			 Zambia 4,294 477,380 
			 Cuba 3,992 452,260 
			 Cameroon 3,826 422,840 
			 Zimbabwe 3,402 359,360 
			 Ethiopia 3,289 359,100 
			 Czech Republic 3,043 343,100 
			 Austria 2,680 306,800 
			 Namibia 2,721 292,420 
			 Mauritius 2,602 287,700 
			 Swaziland 2,680 287,300 
			 Equatorial Guinea 2,510 276,660 
			 Mozambique 2,421 265,500 
			 Botswana 2,246 254,700 
			 Belgium 2,222 253,640 
			 Lesotho 2,285 250,040 
			 Denmark 2,123 244,400 
			 Vietnam 2,133 239,540 
			 Afghanistan 2,031 236,200 
			 Malta 1,906 215,640 
			 Malawi 1,969 212,960 
			 Uganda 1,739 193,520 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 1,748 185,620 
			 Jamaica 1,575 176,600 
			 Egypt 1,751 173,240 
			 Liberia 1,505 170,440 
			 Luxembourg 1,311 150,620 
			 Guinea 1,394 145,180 
			 Lithuania 1,242 144,880 
			 Saudi Arabia 1,366 142,810 
			 DPR Korea 1,272 135,660 
			 Portugal 1,127 133,140 
			 Turkey 1,077 113,010 
			 Finland 988 112,460 
			 China 918 106,000 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 911 101,640

Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations: Unpaid Parking Fines

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In 2010, there were 5,109 parking fines incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in the United Kingdom which were brought to our attention by councils. These totalled £491,086.
	In March this year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wrote to diplomatic missions and international organisations concerned giving them the opportunity to either pay their outstanding fines or appeal against them if they considered that the fines had been issued incorrectly.
	Subsequent payments totalled £105,360 (with a further £77,310 of the outstanding debt being waived by councils). There remains a total of £308,416 in unpaid fines for 2010.
	The table below details those diplomatic missions and international organisations that have outstanding fines totalling £1,000 or more, as of 15 June 2011.
	
		
			 Diplomatic Mission/International Organisation Number of Outstanding Fines (excluding congestion charge) Amount in £ 
			 China 257 £27,690 
			 Afghanistan 245 £25,820 
			 Turkey 253 £25,590 
			 Saudi Arabia 169 £15,440 
			 Cyprus 140 £14,500 
			 Pakistan 128 £13,120 
			 France 120 £11,900 
			 Ghana 107 £10,760 
			 Uzbekistan 102 £9,680 
			 Malaysia 89 £8,950 
			 Ukraine 86 £8,260 
			 Russia 71 £7,920 
			 Egypt 72 £7,180 
			 Tunisia 68 £7,080 
			 Jordan 76 £6,790 
			 Nigeria 70 £6,590 
			 Sudan 48 £4,920 
			 Liberia 45 £4,660 
			 Korea (North) 44 £4,560 
			 Qatar 41 £4,500 
			 Iraq 41 £4,180 
			 Guinea 39 £4,120 
			 Cote D'Ivoire 46 £3,800 
			 Albania 33 £3,560 
			 Libya 33 £3,530 
			 Greece 31 £3,280 
			 Morocco 34 £3,080 
			 Mongolia 29 £3,040 
			 Georgia 35 £3,010 
			 Oman 31 £2,860 
			 Romania 28 £2,860 
			 Kuwait 24 £2,700 
			 Iran 27 £2,660 
			 Bangladesh 23 £2,560 
			 Azerbaijan 27 £2,380 
			 Germany 26 £2,340 
			 Yemen 25 £2,300 
			 USA 24 £2,210 
			 Bulgaria 20 £2,120 
			 Mauritius 20 £2,060 
			 Mozambique 23 £1,970 
			 Tajikistan 21 £1,780 
			 Italy 15 £1,700 
			 Kenya 14 £1,640 
			 Slovenia 16 £1,580 
			 Lebanon 16 £1,520 
			 Equatorial Guinea 19 £1,490 
			 Zambia 18 £1,450 
			 Sierra Leone 15 £1,270 
			 Moldova 12 £1,180 
			 Spain 12 £1,160 
			 India 17 £1,140 
			 Ethiopia 12 £1,120

Diplomatic Missions: Unpaid Non-Domestic Rates

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the national non-domestic rates requested from them.
	They are obliged to pay only 6 per cent of the total national non-domestic rates value which represents payment for specific services such as street cleaning, lighting, maintenance and fire services.
	The total amount outstanding from all diplomatic missions is £566,009. As at 7 May 2011, missions listed below owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR.
	£35,000 has been repaid since February 2011.
	
		
			 Bangladesh £84,542 
			 Cameroon £62,249 
			 Cote D'Ivoire £82,693 
			 E. Guinea £19,707 
			 Iraq £19,533 
			 Liberia £18,764 
			 Sierra Leone £52,651 
			 Tunisia £30,869 
			 Ukraine £26,526 
			 Zimbabwe £108,613

ECOFIN

Lord Sassoon: My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (George Osborne) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Economic and Financial Affairs Council was held in Brussels on 12 July 2011. The following items were discussed:
	Bank stress tests
	The council held an exchange of views on the European Banking Authority (EBA) stress tests. It adopted a statement and agreed a communication strategy on backstop measures to address potential vulnerabilities in member states' banking systems. I emphasised the importance of credible backstops, and of implementing Basel III in full. On 15 July, the EBA published results in aggregate format, while national supervisory authorities published results on individual banking institutions. At the time of publication, Ministers planned to issue statements, based on a common template, on remedial and backstop measures.
	Stability and growth pact
	Closure of Finland's excessive deficit procedure The council adopted a decision closing the excessive deficit procedure for Finland, given that its deficit for 2010 remained below 3 per cent of GDP. Implications of the economic situation for fiscal surveillance The council adopted conclusions which reinforced recommendations made in relation the European semester and excessive deficit procedure. The Government welcome the conclusions and their emphasis on ensuring that all member states fully implement budgetary strategies for the timely meeting of fiscal targets. The council will re-examine the situation after the summer, on the basis of an updated assessment prepared by the Commission.
	Presentation of the Polish presidency work programme
	The council took note of the Polish presidency's ECOFIN work programme for the second half of 2011.
	Follow up to the G20 deputies meeting in Paris on 8 and 9 July 2011
	Finance Ministers took note of the meeting of G20 deputies. It agreed that Ministers would prepare, at the Informal ECOFIN in September, terms of reference for the meeting in Washington on 23 September of G20 Finance Ministers and central bank governors.
	Follow-up to the June European Council on 24 June 2011
	The presidency summarised discussion on economic policy issues at the European Council. On the economic governance legislative package, the presidency would continue to liaise with the European Parliament and come back to the council for further discussion after the summer. With reference to the Euro Plus Pact, the European Council would consider progress on the commitments made by signatories in December. The UK is not a member of the Euro Plus Pact.
	Savings taxation directive
	The Commission gave a presentation on its recommendation for a council decision authorising it to negotiate changes with Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and Switzerland on the taxation of savings income. The council agreed that the mandate should be further examined at working group level, and progress reported back to ECOFIN as soon as possible. The UK is keen to progress this dossier, and welcomes further commitments at council.
	11th facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) ministerial meeting
	Ministers held a joint lunch meeting with their counterparts from the EU's Mediterranean partner countries to discussion implementation of FEMIP.

Energy: National Policy Statements

Lord Marland: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Chris Huhne) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Yesterday, the House of Commons debated and approved the six energy national policy statements that I laid for parliamentary approval on 23 June 2011. I am therefore pleased to inform Parliament that I am today designating them as national policy statements under the provisions of Section 5(1) of the Planning Act 2008, and laying copies before you as required by Section 5(9)(b) of the same Act.
	I believe that this designation marks a significant step forward, as it delivers a key part of our plans to move to a low-carbon future while protecting the security of the UK's energy supplies at affordable prices.

Government Departments: Special Advisers

Lord Strathclyde: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made the following Statement.
	Listed below are the names of the special advisers in post at 19 July 2011, including each special adviser's pay band, and actual salary where this is £58,200 or higher, together with details of the special advisers' pay ranges for 2011-12.
	The paybill for the period 13 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £4.5 million. This compares to £6.8 million for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, and £2.l million for the period 1 April 2010 to 12 May 2010, which includes £l.8 million in severance pay.
	
		
			 Appointing Minister Special Adviser in Post Payband Salary if £58,200 or higher (£) 
			 The Prime Minister Craig Oliver Within scheme ceiling 140,000 
			  Andrew Cooper Within scheme ceiling 140,000 
			  Edward Llewellyn Within scheme ceiling 125,000 
			  Kate Fall PB4 100,000 
			  Gabby Bertin PB3 80,000 
			  Tim Chatwin PB3 70,000 
			  Steve Hilton PB3 90,000 
			  Polly Mackenzie1 PB3 80,000 
			  James O'Shaughnessy PB3 87,000 
			  Lena Pietsch1 PB3 80,000 
			  Patrick Rock PB3 78,000 
			  Liz Sugg PB3 80,000 
			  Peter Campbell PB2 60,000 
			  Sean Kemp1 PB2 60,000 
			  Michael Salter PB2 65,000 
			  Alan Sendorek PB2 60,000 
			  Rohan Silva PB2 69,266 
			  Isabel Spearman (p/t) PB2  
			  Sean Worth PB2  
			  Tim Colbourne1 PB1  
			 Deputy Prime Minister Jonny Oates PB4 98,500 
			  Richard Reeves PB3 85,000 
			  Alison Suttie PB3 80,000 
			  Chris Saunders PB2 60,000 
			  James McGrory PB1  
			 First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Arminka Helic PB3 70,000 
			  Denzil Davidson PB2  
			  Will Littlejohn PB1  
			 Chancellor of the Exchequer2 Ramesh Chhabra PB2 60,000 
			  Poppy Mitchell-Rose PB1  
			 Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Hass PB2 69,266 
			  Kathryn Laing PB1  
			 Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equality Fiona Cunningham PB2 65,000 
			  Nick Timothy PB2 65,000 
			 Secretary of State for Defence Luke Coffey PB2 60,740 
			  Oliver Waghorn PB2 60,740 
			  Hayden Allan PB2  
			 Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Katie Waring PB1  
			  Giles Wilkes PB1  
			 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Susie Squire PB2  
			  Philippa Stroud PB2 69,250 
			 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Duncan Brack PB2 67,000 
			  Joel Kenrick PB2  
			 Secretary of State for Health Bill Morgan PB3 76,000 
			  Jenny Jackson PB2  
			 Secretary of State for Education Henry de Zoete PB2  
			  Dominic Cummings PB1  
			 Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Giles Kenningham PB2 64,500 
			  Sheridan Westlake PB2 64,500 
			 Secretary of State for Transport Sian Jones PB2  
			  Paul Stephenson PB2  
			 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Simon Cawte PB2  
			  Amy Fisher PB2 60,000 
			 Secretary of State for International Development Philippa Buckley PB1  
			  Richard Parr PB1  
			 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Jonathan Caine PB2 69,266 
			 Secretary of State for Scotland Euan Roddin PB2 60,000 
			 Secretary of State for Wales Richard Hazlewood PB2  
			 Secretary of State for Culture, Media, the Olympics and Sport Adam Smith PB2  
			  Sue Beeby PB2  
			 Chief Secretary Will de Peyer PB2 63,000 
			  Julia Goldsworthy PB3 74,000 
			 Minister without Portfolio Naweed Khan PB0  
			 Leader of the House of Lords, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Flora Coleman PB0  
			  Elizabeth Plummer PB0  
			  James Marshall PB2  
			 Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General Laura Trott PB2  
			 Minister of State, Cabinet Office Martha Varney PB1  
			 Minister of State (Universities and Science), BIS Nick Hillman PB2  
			 Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal Robert Riddell PB2  
			 Chief Whip (Commons) Chris White PB2  
			  Ben Williams PB2 68,000 
		
	
	1 Appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister and based in No 10.
	2 In addition, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Rupert Harrison (PB3, £80,000), and Eleanor Shawcross (PB2) to the Council of Economic Advisers.
	Special Adviser Pay Bands for 2011-12
	The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2011-12 are as follows.
	
		
			 Scheme Ceiling £ 142,668 
			 Pay Band 4 £88,966 - £106,864 
			 Pay Band 3 and Premium £66,512 -103,263 
			 Pay Band 2 £52,215 - £69,266 
			 Pay Band 1 £40,352 - £54,121 
			 Pay Band 0 Up to £40,352

Government: Ministerial Duties

Lord Strathclyde: My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:
	The Prime Minister has agreed that from today (19 July), in addition to his existing role as Minister for Decentralisation, the right honourable Greg Clark MP will become Minister for Cities with responsibility for English cities. He will report in this new role jointly to the Secretary of State for Business and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Housing Benefit

Lord Freud: Later today, the Government will publish a consultation paper on proposals to review the way in which housing benefit is calculated for those who live in supported housing. Views will be invited to inform the detailed development of our proposals as we look toward amending legislation.
	Many of those who live in supported housing managed or owned by not-for-profit social or voluntary sector providers have their housing benefit based on more generous rules. However, these rules have been in place since the mid-90s and no longer fit the way that personal care and support are now commonly delivered. These rules have also become complex both to administer and understand.
	We want housing benefit to support independence in the community while being fair, affordable and sustainable. Our challenge is to reform housing benefit in such a way that it can more effectively help those people with specialist housing needs who commonly live in specialist supported housing or in adapted housing. Our proposals recognise that the provision of supported housing broadly falls into two groups.
	First, there is the more easily recognisable types of supported housing such as hostels, refuges, foyers and purpose-built sheltered housing, where residents commonly need less intensive personal care and support to help them remain in the community. For this group we are proposing to pay the local housing allowance but with fixed additions that will continue to recognise the higher costs of providing this type of housing.
	Secondly, there is the type of supported housing often specifically built, acquired and/or adapted for the individual tenant(s) who have more specific housing needs that cannot be met by mainstream or existing supported housing. The detail of the exact funding arrangements is yet to be determined but we propose that decisions on the level of any extra help that an individual may need toward their rent over and above the standard local housing allowance would be made locally.
	It is important to be clear that these reforms are not looking to cut expenditure in this sector but to better direct it. In the face of rising expenditure in this area, it is important to find the right balance between protecting reasonable rents and providing effective expenditure control for the tax payer. Consequently any changes will need to be cost-neutral overall.
	A copy of the consultation paper will be available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at: www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/supported-housing.shtml. Copies will also be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

NHS: Patient Choice

Earl Howe: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Andrew Lansley) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today I am publishing operational guidance for the National Health Service on extending patient choice of provider.
	In response to the NHS Future Forum's report, this Government remain committed to extending patients' choice to include choice of any qualified provider. Since April 2008, patients have been offered choice of provider in routine elective care. Both in the coalition agreement and in the White Paper Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS, Cm 7881, this Government committed to giving patients greater choice and control over their healthcare.
	Our goal is to enable patients to choose any qualified provider where this will result in better care. We will adopt a phased approach, introducing choice of provider for services where there is a strong demand from patients for greater choice, starting with community services. We will ensure that patients, carers and professionals are engaged nationally and locally, and that lessons are learned from each stage
	Choice of any qualified provider will mean that when patients are referred for a particular service, they can choose, where appropriate, from a range of providers that are qualified to provide safe, high quality care and treatment-and select the one that best meets their individual needs. To ensure that competition is based on quality and not price, patients' choices will be limited to services covered by national or local tariff pricing. The guidance is intended for commissioners and current and prospective providers of NHS-funded services. Commissioners will continue to shape local services in line with best practice, including where services need to be integrated to improve quality.
	Today I am also publishing the Government's response to the first part of our consultation, Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control. A response to the feedback received on the remaining commitments will follow later in the year.
	The guidance, Extending patient choice of provider, accompanying impact assessments and Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control - Government Response: Extending patient choice of provider (any qualified provider) have been placed in the Library. Copies of the guidance and the response to the consultation are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.

Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012

Earl Attlee: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Philip Hammond) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	On 7 March the Government announced plans to introduce temporary airspace restrictions in the south-east of England during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games to help protect key Games locations from potential airborne risks. We also made clear that further work would be done to evaluate the potential impact of these measures before final decisions were made. Additional work was also envisaged on possible exemptions and alleviations to mitigate the impact of the proposed restrictions on the aviation industry where possible, without reducing the effectiveness and robustness of the security measures.
	Since March, further extensive work has been done in conjunction with the aviation sector to understand the likely impact of the planned restrictions on the industry. Alongside this, security experts have also carried out further analysis on the risks to the Games. This work has given us a more sophisticated understanding of the relative challenges as regards the Olympics and the Paralympics. The changes to the original measures have been made to minimise the impact of the restrictions without compromising the safety and security of the Games.
	As a result of both this improved understanding and work with the aviation community, the Government are today announcing further development of the plans for temporary airspace control measures.
	Between 14 July and 15 August 2012, the airspace measures will, as previously proposed, comprise an inner Prohibited Zone and an outer Restricted Zone, approximately 60 nautical miles across, centred on the Olympic Park.
	Only certain categories of aircraft-those operating commercial services and subject to full aviation security procedures-will normally be permitted to operate within the Prohibited Zone. Aircraft involved in, for example, police, emergency medical, essential survey and Olympic broadcast operations will be exempt. Subject to specific conditions, exemptions will also be granted to flights operating from Denham, Fairoaks and White Waltham airfields, and the London Heliport at Battersea-all located within the Prohibited Zone-directly to and from the boundary with the Restricted Zone.
	As previously proposed, all types of aircraft will be permitted to operate in the wider Restricted Zone during this period, provided that they can satisfy certain requirements designed to ensure that aircraft within the zone can be readily identified and monitored by air traffic control. Additional changes to the original plans are now proposed, including exemptions for flights directly exiting the Restricted Zone from airfields within three nautical miles of the zone's outer boundary, and the removal of the prohibition against cross-country solo student flights. Small changes to the boundaries of the Prohibited and Restricted Zones are also being made, primarily for reasons of air traffic safety and ease of navigation. Further work is underway to look at whether the current minimum period for filing a flight plan can be reduced from the existing two hours.
	From 16 August until the Paralympic village closes on 12 September 2012, the Prohibited and Restricted Zones will be replaced by three separate, smaller areas of restricted airspace: one over central London and the Olympic Park, one over the Eton Dorney Paralympic rowing venue and one over the rowing village at Egham. Access to this airspace will be restricted to those aircraft permitted to operate within the earlier Prohibited Zone. A specific exemption will be granted in respect of operations into and out of the London Heliport.
	A similar approach-the introduction of localised areas of temporarily restricted airspace-will be taken in respect of the Games venues elsewhere across the country as and when appropriate during the Games period.
	Full details of the planned airspace restrictions, including maps, can be found on the Airspace Safety Initiative web site at www.airspacesafety.com/Olympics.
	It is not expected that any airports will need to close as a result of the planned measures. There should be no impact on scheduled air services, and a significantly reduced impact on most other types of operation within the Prohibited and Restricted Zones as a result of the changes made to the design and duration of the restrictions.
	The Government's paramount objective is the delivery of a safe and secure Games for all. We are confident that the measures announced today are a proportionate approach, balancing the need to put in place appropriate and effective countermeasures against potential aviation-based risks to the Games with the desire to minimise the impact on the aviation community. However, should circumstances change, the Government reserve the right to implement additional airspace security measures should the need arise.

Overseas Stability

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I, together with my right honourable friends the Secretary of State for International Development and the Secretary of State for Defence, wish to inform the House that the Government is publishing today our Building Stability Overseas Strategy which will help us to prioritise and implement a distinctive UK approach to building stability overseas with maximum impact.
	The National Security Strategy (NSS) identified shaping a stable world as a core government objective to reduce the likelihood of threats affecting the UK or our direct interests overseas. The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) made a commitment that we would reduce such threats by tackling them at source. The "Arab Spring" has highlighted the need for a strategic UK approach to early engagement in places at risk of instability, and to be prepared for a fast, flexible and integrated government response.
	The Building Stability Overseas Strategy, which is being published online today on the websites of all three departments, sets out clear, achievable proposals for how we can improve the way we identify, prevent and end instability and conflict overseas by using our diplomatic, development, defence and security tools, and by drawing on Britain's experience, relationships, reputation and values. We will prioritise action on those fragile and conflict-affected countries where the risks are high, our interests are most at stake and where we know we can have an impact. The strategy is based around three mutually supporting pillars:
	Early warning: improving our ability to anticipate instability and potential triggers for conflict. To this end, we will establish an Early Warning System that will take a global view of countries in which political, economic and security shocks over the next 12 months could trigger instability. We will also produce a new internal watch list of fragile countries in which we assess that the risks of conflict and insecurity are high and the UK has significant interests at stake.
	Rapid crisis prevention and response: improving our ability to take fast, appropriate and effective action to prevent a crisis or stop it escalating. We will therefore create a £20 million annual Early Action Facility within the tri-departmental Conflict Pool. This will be a cross-Government facility with a mixture of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA resources to help us move more swiftly in response to warnings and opportunities. We will also continue to develop and improve the readiness of our Stabilisation Response Teams (SRTs). These are integrated teams drawn from across Government-including military, police or civil servants and other experts-that can deploy swiftly into difficult environments and enable the UK to rapidly help shape the response to emerging crises, either bilaterally or with international partners.
	Investing in upstream prevention: helping to build strong, legitimate institutions and robust societies in fragile countries that are capable of managing tensions and shocks so there is a lower likelihood of instability and conflict. We are already investing more in upstream prevention, increasing to 30 per cent by 2014-15 the proportion of UK Official Development Assistance that supports conflict-affected and fragile states. In addition, we will work to ensure that the conflict pool provides predictable multi-year resources for: free, transparent and inclusive political systems; effective and accountable security and justice (including through defence engagement); and building the ability of local populations and regional and multilateral institutions to prevent and resolve the conflicts that affect them. We will also increase our work with other key groups such as local government, communities, the private sector, faith groups, civil society and the media.
	I have deposited a copy of the strategy in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk, the DfID website at www.dfid.gov.uk and the MoD website at www.mod.gov.uk.

Pensions

Lord Sassoon: My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander) has today issued the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The coalition programme gave a commitment to review the long-term affordability and sustainability of public service pensions, and Lord Hutton's Independent Public Service Pensions Commission has demonstrated that reform is needed. At Budget, the Government made clear that they accepted Lord Hutton's recommendations as a basis for consultation with public sector workers, trades unions and others and that we would set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable and fair to both the public sector workforce and the taxpayer.
	The Government have already committed to retaining a form of defined benefit pension in the public sector and protecting accrued rights so that all the benefits that members have earned up to the point of change will be protected. Today, I would like to inform the House of the progress that has been made and the process going forward.
	The Government and the Trades Unions Congress (TUC) have held a series of constructive meetings to discuss public service pension reform that have covered Lord Hutton's key recommendations and the Government's proposed employee contributions increase. A basis for agreement has been established in several areas, but differences remain on some of the key recommendations.
	The Government and the TUC have agreed that to further inform the discussions on Lord Hutton's recommendations, there should be scheme-level discussions alongside the central process already established. Scheme-level discussions will ensure a fuller understanding of the implications of reforms, before final conclusions are reached. These scheme-level discussions will deliver initial proposals for reformed schemes by the end of October this year, allowing further work to finalise detailed scheme design before the Government introduces legislation in due course.
	Lord Hutton's recommendations will inform these scheme-level discussions and the Government will provide scheme-specific cost ceilings. These ceilings will be based on Lord Hutton's proposals, but will go further and ensure that the pension that individuals receive at normal pension age would be broadly as generous for low and middle income earners as it is now. These cost ceilings will ensure that public service pensions remain affordable and sustainable, by setting a limit on the contribution made by the Government and ultimately the taxpayer.
	Further to the rationale for short-term savings set out in Lord Hutton's interim report, the Government announced plans to target £2.8 billion savings per year by 2014-15 through public service employee pension contributions at spending review 2010. The scheme-by-scheme consultations for the unfunded public service pension schemes to deliver the first years' savings of £1.2 billion will commence by the end of this month. Reflecting the Government's commitment to protect the low paid, the Government have set out their preferred parameters for any design. There should be no increase in employee contributions for those earning less than £15,000 and no more than a 1.5 percentage point increase in total by 2014-15 for those earning up to £21,000. This amounts to a 0.6 percentage point increase in 2012-13 on a pro rata basis. It is proposed that higher earners will pay more but the Government have proposed a cap on the maximum increase of 6 percentage points (before tax relief) by 2014-15. This amounts to a 2.4 percentage point cap in 2012-13 on a pro rata basis. These consultations will be completed by the end of October, in order to ensure implementation by April 2012.
	The Government remain committed to securing the full spending review savings of £2.3 billion in 2013-14 and £2.8 billion in 2014-15, requiring each scheme to find savings equivalent to a 3.2 percentage point increase. Scheme-specific discussions will make proposals on how these savings are achieved, and will be required to make proposals by the end of October this year. For local government, the Government recognise that the funded nature of the scheme puts it in a different position and will discuss whether there are alternative ways to deliver some or all of the savings.
	I have today exchanged letters on these issues with the General Secretary of the Trades Unions Congress and copies of these letters have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to be able to publish later today the Government's consultation document, Workplace Pension Reform: Completing the Legislative Framework for Automatic Enrolment, and to announce that today marks the beginning of a period of formal consultation on draft regulations relating to automatic enrolment into workplace pension schemes. The consultation period will run for 12 weeks, ending on 11 October.
	This consultation addresses the remaining legislative changes needed to put in place the Government's workplace pensions reforms, which are due to begin in 2012. The Making Automatic Enrolment Work review, which took place last year, recommended changes to the proposed requirements in order to make it easier for employers and employees to understand and operate the new automatic enrolment requirement. These changes, together with some minor technical amendments, are set out in the draft regulations published alongside the consultation document.
	I would like to thank all those people and organisations who have offered their views and advice in response to our recent informal consultation, and hope that they will continue to do so now that consultation has moved on to a formal footing.
	The consultation document will be available later today on the department's website at: www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/workplace-pension-reform-2011.shtml.

People Trafficking

Baroness Browning: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Immigration (Damian Green) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am today publishing the Government's human trafficking strategy Human Trafficking: The Government's Strategy, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
	Victim care arrangements remain central to the Government's approach to combating trafficking. Adult victim care arrangements will be strengthened, with support offered by a greater range of specialist care providers. This will ensure that victims have access to the care they need, tailored to their particular circumstances and in line with our international commitments. We will also ensure that children remain a focus of our efforts as we look to combat those traffickers who exploit vulnerable children.
	A renewed focus on preventing human trafficking is required. The UK is already a world leader in the fight against trafficking but we recognise more can be done with international partners to reduce the threat from overseas. The strategy recognises the importance of working with source and transit countries to target and disrupt the work of traffickers and prevent more vulnerable men, women and children from becoming trafficking victims. A key aspect of our approach will be better intelligence gathering and sharing and, from 2013 the National Crime Agency will play a vital role in spearheading our fight against organised criminal groups who are engaged in human trafficking.
	The strategy also sets out our aim to better co-ordinate our border and policing law enforcement efforts to prevent traffickers from entering the UK. We will use intelligence to target those convicted or suspected of trafficking at the border as well as developing risk-based indicators to facilitate the systematic targeting of high-risk passengers.
	We will also ensure that we monitor intelligence in relation to key events such as the Olympics and Paralympics to respond quickly and appropriately to any potential increased risk of trafficking.

Private Finance Initiative Contracts

Lord Sassoon: My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury has today issued the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	This Government have previously voiced their concern about the value for money in private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. Today, as part of ongoing plans to reform PFI, the Government are announcing their plan to deliver £1.5 billion savings from the existing stock of PFI projects. These savings will be retained by the contracting authorities and put towards front-line public services.
	The Government are committed to ensuring taxpayers get value for money from PFI contracts. And we have already taken a series of steps to improve the cost effectiveness and transparency of PFI contracts.
	At the spending review 2010, the Government abolished PFI credits to create a level playing field for all forms of public procurement.
	In January this year the Government issued draft guidance to support the public sector in making savings from operational PFI projects. Since then, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury have tested the guidance on a pilot project at the Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has conducted savings pilots on its PFI projects. And today, on the Treasury website, the Government publish the updated savings guidance that reflects the lessons learned from these pilots.
	In April this year the Government introduced new guidance to departments to strengthen the approvals process of all projects. All major projects outside a department's delegated authority now need to go through three approval points.
	And earlier this month the Government published for the first time an unaudited summary of the whole government accounts (WGA), a new level of financial transparency that revealed the scale of PFI project liabilities. The Treasury is also engaging with the National Audit Office on a new study of the balance of risk and return of private investor equity in PFI projects, and to consider how financial transparency in this area could be improved.
	In making this announcement today, the Government recognise the role played by the strong parliamentary campaign to reduce PFI costs and secure better value for money for the taxpayer.
	PFI savings pilots
	Annual savings of around 5 per cent have been confirmed for each of the Romford PFI savings pilot and two MoD pilots. Savings have been identified in three main areas: effective contract management, making better use of PFI assets, and ensuring the public sector only pays for what it needs.
	The level of savings achievable at other PFI projects will vary, reflecting the bespoke, complex nature of assets and services delivered under these long-term contracts. But the pilots have shown that valuable efficiency savings can be achieved when private sector suppliers work together with the public sector to reduce PFI costs.
	Applying the lessons of the pilot projects across the PFI portfolio
	The Government want to apply the lessons from these pilots to PFI projects across the public sector.
	The Cabinet Office, supported by Treasury and by local partnerships, will now lead a central programme that brings together ongoing major government supplier renegotiations with project-level savings initiatives being delivered by local contract management teams across the country, for services including defence, hospitals, schools, street lighting and waste. All operational savings that are made will remain with the institutions concerned, to be reinvested in the areas of highest priority, to support investment in our hospitals, schools and other frontline services.
	This new savings programme will drive the sharing of best practice across public sector authorities, recognising that improving local delivery skills is essential to ensure better value from the use of private finance in public infrastructure in the future.
	In addition, the Treasury will be taking forward engagement with the PFI industry to secure agreement to a code of conduct for industry and public sector co-operation on operational savings initiatives, and to improve transparency. The Government will continue to look at what more can be done to get better value for money from existing and future PFI projects.
	It is important that the lessons demonstrated from these savings pilots are factored into future procurements from the very beginning. The first example of this will be the new programme of privately financed schools that was announced today. The new schools programme provides an opportunity to test an improved approach to working with the private sector to deliver essential public assets. This Government are committed to ensuring that the lessons learned from the PFI savings pilots are applied in the future pipeline of privately financed projects.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Baroness Browning: My honourable friend the Minister for Crime and Security (James Brokenshire) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is today laying before Parliament the 2010-11 annual report of the appointed person under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The appointed person is an independent person who scrutinises the use of the search power introduced to support the measures in the Act to seize and forfeit criminal cash.
	The report gives the appointed person's opinion as to the circumstances and manner in which the search powers conferred by the Act are being exercised. I am pleased that the appointed person, Andrew Clarke, has expressed satisfaction with the operation of the search power and has found that there is nothing to suggest that the procedures are not being followed in accordance with the Act.
	From 1 April 2010 to the end of March 2011 over £67 million in cash was seized by law enforcement agencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland under powers in the Act. The seizures are subject to further investigation, and the cash is subject to further judicially approved detention, before forfeiture in the magistrates' court. These powers are a valuable tool in the fight against crime and the report shows that the way they are used has been, and will continue to be, closely monitored.
	Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office.

Suicide

Earl Howe: My honourable friend the Minister State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today I am publishing a consultation on a new suicide prevention strategy for England. Consultation on Preventing Suicide in England: A Cross-Government Outcomes Strategy To Save Lives has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office. The document is also available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_128065.
	Suicide rates in England have been at a historical low recently and are low in comparison to those of most other European countries. However, there were still nearly 4,400 suicides in England in 2009, the latest year for which national data are available.
	Suicides are not inevitable. An inclusive society that avoids the marginalisation of individuals and which supports people at times of personal crisis will help to prevent suicides. Government and statutory services also have a role to play. We can build individual and community resilience. We can ensure that vulnerable people in the care of health and social services and at risk of suicide are supported and kept safe from preventable harm. We can also ensure that we intervene quickly when someone is in distress or in crisis.
	In developing a new national all-age suicide prevention strategy for England, the Government have built on the successes of the earlier strategy published in 2002. Real progress has been made in reducing the already relatively low suicide rate to record low levels. One of the main changes from the previous strategy is the greater prominence of measures to support families- those who are worried that a loved one is at risk and those who are having to cope with the aftermath of a suicide.
	There is no single approach to suicide prevention. It needs a broad co-ordinated system-wide approach that requires input from a wide range of partner agencies, organisations and sectors. People who have been directly affected by the suicide of a family member or friend, the voluntary, statutory and private sectors, academic researchers and government departments can all contribute to a sustained reduction in suicides in England.
	The draft strategy sets out our overall objectives:
	a reduction in the suicide rate in the general population in England; andbetter support for those bereaved or affected by suicide.
	We have identified six key areas for action to support delivery of these objectives:
	reduce the risk of suicide in key high risk groups;tailor approaches to improve mental health in specific groups;reduce access to the means of suicide;provide better information and support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide;support the media in delivering sensible and sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour; and support research, data collection and monitoring.
	The new health and well-being boards will become the local forum for determining local needs. These boards will be able to support suicide prevention by bringing together local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, directors of public health, adult social services and children's services and local HealthWatch. This presents a unique opportunity for local agencies to look at the wider context and agree how best to marshal resources across agencies to have the greatest positive impact on local health and well-being.
	The draft strategy has been developed with the support of leading experts in the field of suicide prevention, including the members of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group under the chairmanship of Professor Louis Appleby CBE. I would like to thank all members of this group for sharing their knowledge and expertise.
	The consultation period will close on 11 October 2011.

Terrorism: 7 July Inquest

Baroness Browning: My honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In my Written Ministerial Statement on 9 May, I undertook to inform the House of the Government's response to Lady Justice Hallett's report following her inquests into the 7 July attacks.
	All responses have been published on the inquests website earlier today. The Government have not asked for any part of its response to be withheld.
	The Government and the Security Service have carefully considered the coroner's report and fully accept the three recommendations directed to it-namely, recommendations 1, 2 and 9. The government response sets out in full the next steps that have been or will be taken to address these three recommendations.
	The government response also provides full consideration on areas of concern that were raised by the coroner, but which were not attached to formal recommendations, and considers the broader UK implications of those recommendations addressed to London-based organisations.
	Lady Justice Hallett has identified important areas where the Government and local partners, including the emergency services, can work to improve our ability to respond to emergencies. Through the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and the wider resilience programme led by the Cabinet Office we will work to implement swiftly the actions set out in the Government's response.
	A copy of the government response will be placed in the Library of the House.

Young People: Custody

Lord McNally: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Crispin Blunt) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today is the launch of a consultation on the Strategy for the Secure Estate for Children and Young People for England and Wales.
	This is a joint publication between the Ministry of Justice and the Youth Justice Board. The consultation invites views on a proposed strategy for the under-18 secure estate for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15. Custody continues to play an important part in the youth justice system for the small number of young people for whom a community sentence is not appropriate. The recent reduction in the number of young people in custody means that the secure estate is now going through a period of change. This presents an opportunity to consider the most appropriate configuration of the estate and consider whether different regimes can deliver improved outcomes.
	The consultation will run for 12 weeks, and details on how to respond can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gsi.gov.uk.